U.S. Military Intelligence Budget Cut By $2.5 Billion. Overall U.S. Intel Budget Will Top Over $75 Billion

U.S. Military Intel Spending Dips $2.5B -- Defense News

The U.S. military’s intelligence spending fell $2.5 billion in 2012, continuing its decline as operations in Iraq finished and operations in Afghanistan wind down.

In all, Congress appropriated $21.5 billion for the military intelligence program [MIP], according to the Defense Department. The figure includes funding in the base budget and war spending accounts.

“The department determined that releasing this top line figure does not jeopardize any classified activities within the MIP,” DoD said in an Oct. 30 statement. “No other MIP budget figures or program details will be released, as they remain classified for national security reasons.”

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More News On U.S. Intelligence Spending

Intelligence spending fell in 2012 for second year in a row -- Reuters
U.S. intel budget topped $75 billion in 2012 -- Washington Times
U.S. Spy Budget Falls to $75.4 Billion in Second Decline -- Bloomberg
US reports slight decline in intelligence budget -- AFP
Intelligence Spending Drops for a Second Year -- Secrecy News
U.S. spent $75 billion on intelligence agencies in 2012 -- Government Security News
Panetta reveals Military Intelligence Program budget requests -- Examiner
US reports slight decline in intelligence budget -- Business Recorder

Overall U.S. Intelligence Budgets Are Facing Billions In Cuts

Photo: Flickr/White House

U.S. Intelligence Budget Faces 'Double Digit' Cuts: DNI Clapper -- Aol Defense

San Antonio: After a decade of enormous budget increases the American intelligence community's budget will probably decline by billions of dollars, Director of National Intelligence Jim Clapper said here.

Clapper told more than 3,000 people at the annual Geoint conference that the intelligence community's budget had been handed in to the White House's Office of Management and Budget. "We are all going to have to give at the office," Clapper said. The bulk of the cuts will come from accounts labeled information technology, he said.

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Update: U.S. Spies Facing Tens of Billions in Budget Cuts -- Danger Room

My Comment: I have to see these cuts take place to believe it .... because for now .... I am deeply skeptical that such cuts will ever be implemented.

The U.S. Defense Department Still Hides Its Intelligence Spending

Intelligence Spending, Still Buried Deep In Budget -- Washington Post

Don’t hold your breath waiting for Congress to follow up on a recommendation from Director of National Intelligence James Clapper to separate the budget for the National Intelligence Program — which funds the CIA and other intelligence agencies — from the Defense Department budget.

Intelligence spending has always been hidden in the Defense Department. Clapper’s plan would, at a minimum, reduce the defense budget and provide a measure of transparency into the country’s real defense costs. The plan could also strengthen Clapper’s hand as director of national intelligence.

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My Comment: An interesting summary on the political turf war over intelligence spending .... a turf war in which the Pentagon is still able to keep its own budget.